Self winding watch



April 12, 1932. REINER 1,853,637 SELF WINDING WATCH Filed Jan. 22, 1929M INVENTOR.

A TTO EYS.

Patented Apr. 12, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MAX BEINER, 0]? NEWYORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO PERPETUAL SELF WINDINGWATCH CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE SELFWINDING WATCH Application filed January 22, 1929. Serial No. 334,173.

This invention relates to watches and more especially to wrist watchesor the like provided with a self-winding movement, whereby movement ofthe watch is eifeotive, to wind the main spring.

An object of this invention is a. self-winding watch or the likeprovided with improved and eflicient means for effecting winding of themain spring by movement of the watch while being worn and preventingoverwinding of the said spring.

According to this invention, the winding of the main spring is effectedby means of a weighted pendulum, which may be mounted on a pivot forfree oscillation ,in every are about said pivot. Oscillation of thependulum or weight is caused by motion of the watch usually effected bymovement of the wrist of the wearer of the watch. There is also provideda wheel to which rotation in one direction only is imparted by theweight. This wheel is connected to the winding train of the watch bymeans of spring actuated click mechanism, which transmits springpressure from the wheel to the winding train whereby the rotation of theweight is effective to wind the main spring. The spring pressure exertedby the click mechanism exceeds the normal resistance to winding of themain spring. However, when the main spring approaches its winding limitits resistance to winding increases and overcomes the spring pressure ofthe click mechanism. Under such conditions, the click yields and thewheel continues to be rotated by the weight, but is ineffective furtherto wind the spring. As soon as the main spring unwinds enough so thatthe spring pressure again exceeds the resistance of the winding train,

movement of the weight effects winding of the spring. When the watch isbeing worn, the sprin is normally kept about two-thirds or threeourthswound up due to the movements of the wearer.

The click mechanism connecting the wheel and winding train preferablyconsists of a spring actuated pawl, dog or the like carried by the wheeland which engages oblique surfaces on a. wheel of the winding train. Thespring pressure exerted by the click on the oblique surfaces exceeds theresistance of the winding train except when the spring is nearl v woundup and movement of the weight is eifective to wind the spring. However,when the main spring is wound to a predetermined extent, its resistanceto further winding exceeds the force of the click mechanism and theclick slides over the oblique surfaces without effecting operation ofthe winding train. Means are provided for varying the tension applied tothe click, thus permitting variations in extent to which the main springcan be wound up. By this arrangement, the main spring is prevented frombeing overwound, although the weight is freeto rotate at all times.

By having the operating weight mounted for complete rotation, the weightswings through the longest possible arc and produces the maximum windingeffect. The weight is always free to swing regardless of the arrangementof the watch on the wrist of the wearer. Moreover, as there are no stopsto interfere with the swing of the weight, there is complete absence ofthe objectionable shocks which would occur should there be stops tolimit the path of the weight. The free rotation of the weight permitsadvantage to be taken of any motion of the watch tending to swing theweight and this feature insures maximum winding efliciency.

Other objects, novel features and advantages of this invention will beapparent from the following specification and accompanying drawings,wherein Fig. 1 is a rear view of a watch movement embodying theinvention.

Fig. 2 is a partial section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the tension adjusting means.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a modi fied form of the invention,and

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Referring now especially to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, 10 is the back plate of awatch to which is attached one end of bridge 11, the other end of whichextends over the plate 10 to the center thereof. A. pin 12 extends fromthe plate 10 to the free end of the bridge 11. A

gear wheel 13 and a ratchet wheel 14 have a common hub 15 through whichthe pin 12 extends. A second ratchet wheel 16 of lar er diameter thaneither the gear wheel 13 or te ratchet wheel 14 is rotatably mounted onthe hub 15 between the wheels 13 and 14. An arm 17 is rotatably mountedat one end on the pin 12 and is provided with a weight at the other end.The arm 17 carries a spring actuated pawl 18, which engages the teeth ofthe ratchet wheel 16 to rotate the latter in counter-clockwisedirection. A click 19 is pivoted to the ratchet wheel 16 and is arrangedto engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 14. A bowed resilient member 20is pivoted near one end of the ratchet wheel 16 and has its other endbearing against the click 19 to force the latter against the teeth ofthe ratchet wheel 14. The force exerted by the spring 20 on the click 19is varied by means of the regulator 21, which is in the shape of aregular polygon, and is eccentrically mounted on a pin 22. One face ofthe regulator 21 bears against the free end of the spring 20 anddetermines the tension exerted by the spring on the click 19. Bybringing different faces of the member 21 into engagement with the freeend of the spring 20, the tension of this spring may be varied. The gearwheel 13 is connected through a winding train with the main spring gear23 so that rotation of the gear wheel 13 is effective to wind up themain spring. A pawl 24 permits operation of the winding train in onedirection only. The click 19 is held in contact with the sloping facesof the teeth of the ratchet wheel 14 and the pressure thus establishedis sufiicient normally to cause counter-clockwise rotation of the wheel14 with the ratchet wheel 16. Thus rotary motion imparted to the ratchetwheel 16 by the arm 17 is communicated through the click to the wheel14. As the gear wheel 13 is permanently connected to the wheel 14, it iscaused to rotate therewith and effect operation of the winding train.

The pressure exerted by the click 19 on the wheel 14 exceeds the normalresistance of the main spring of the watch. However, as the main springis wound up, this resistance to winding increases, and when the mainspring becomes nearly wound up, the resistance of the winding trainexceeds the force applied by the click to the wheel 14. Under suchcircumstances, the click slides along the sloping faces of the teeth ofthe wheel 14 without effecting rotation of the same. By varying thepressure between the click and its cooperating wheel, the extent towhich the main spring will be wound up may be varied. Such pressure maybe varied by regulating the tension on the spring 20 through the mediumof the member 21. The arm 17 is free, however, to swing at all times andits swinging movement either clockwise or anti-clockwise is unimpeded.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, 10 designates the rear plate of a watchmovement, which is provided with a bridge 11 and a pin 12. On the pin 12are rotatably mounted a gear wheel 33, a ratchet wheel 36 and an arm 37provided at its free end with a. weight 37. A spring actuating pawl 38is carried by the arm 37 and engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel 36to effect counter-clockwise rotation thereof. The wheel 33 is providedon its upper face with an annular row of teeth 34 having sloping faces.A pin or click 39 is carried by one end of a spring 40 pivotally mountedon studs 41 and has in its opposite end an adjusting screw 42. The click39 extends through an aperture in the wheel 36 to engage the teeth 34 ofthe wheel 33. A pawl 43 permits operation of the winding train in onedirection only. The wheel 33 is connected through the usual windingtrain with the main spring gear 23 whereby rotation of the wheel 33 iseffective to wind up the main spring in the manner previously described.The arm 37 imparts counter-clockwise rotation to the wheel 36 throughthe pawl 38. The wheel 36, through the medium of the click o9 pulls thewheel 33 with it counterclockwise and thus effects winding of the mainspring. \Vhen the resistance to winding of the main spring exceeds theforce applied by the click 39 to the sloping surfaces on the wheel 33,the click ride's over the teeth without effecting rotation of the wheel33. This arrangement prevents overwinding of the spring and thiscondition exists until the resistance of the spring equals or is lessthan the force applied by the click to the wheel. This force may beadjusted by means of the screw 42.

Although in the embodiment of the invention above described, tlieoperating pendulum is disclosed as being capable of complete rotation,it is apparent that such a pendulum although desirable is not essentialand that a pendulum having a limited oscillation may be used instead.

It is of course understood that various structural changes may be madein the device above described, without in any way departing from thespirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a self-winding watch, a weighted arm supported at one end foroscillation, a wheel, co-acting means on said arm and wheel to impartuni-directional rotation from said arm to said wheel, a second wheelhaving a circular row of radially oblique surfaces, a spring actuatedmember carried by said first wheel and engaging said surfaces totransmit rotation from the first to the second wheel, and a windingtrain operated by said second wheel.

2. In a self-winding watch, a weighted arm pivotally supported at oneend, a ratchet wheel, a pawl carried by said arm and engaging saidratchet wheel, a second wheel, a click carried by said ratchet wheel andengaging radially oblique surfaces formed on said second wheel, and awinding train operated by said second wheel.

3. In a self-winding Watch, an oscillatory weight, a wheel, means toimpart uni-directional rotation to said wheel from said weight, aratchet wheel having radially obique teeth, a click carried by saidfirst wheel and engaging the teeth of said ratchet wheel, a pivotedresilient member exerting pressure on said click, and means to vary thetension of said resilient member.

4. In a self-winding watch, an oscillatory weight, a wheel, means toimpart un i-directional rotation to said wheel from said weight, aratchet wheel, a click carried by said first wheel and engaging theteeth of said ratchet wheel, a bowed resilient member pivoted near oneend to said wheel and having its other end engaging said click and amember for adjusting the tension of said resilient member, said memberhaving a plurality of faces, each of which is adapted to engage the freeend of said resilient member.

5. In a self-winding watch, a pivot, a weight mounted for freeoscillation in every are about said pivot, a wheel, means to impartuni-directional rotation from said weight to said wheel, a second wheel,click mechanism connecting said first and second wheels, and a windingtrain operated by said second wheel.

6. In a self-winding watch, a pivot, a Weight mounted for freeoscillation in every are about said pivot, a wheel, coacting means onsaid weight and wheel to impart uni-directional rotation from saidweight to said wheel, a second wheel having a circular row of obliquesurfaces, a spring actuated member carried by said first wheel andengaging said oblique surfaces to permit rotation from the first to thesecond Wheel, and a winding train operated by said second wheel.

7. In a self-winding watch, a pivot, a pendulum supported by said pivotfor free oscillation in every are about said pivot, a ratchet wheel, apawl carried by said pendulum and engaging said ratchet wheel, a secondwheel, a click carried by said ratchet wheel and engaging slopingsurfaces provided on said second wheel, and a windin train operated bysaid second wheel.

8. In a self-winding watch, an oscillatory weight, a wheel, means toimpart uni-directional rotation from said weight to said wheel, aratchet wheel having radially oblique teeth, a click carried by saidfirst Wheel and engaging the teeth of said ratchet wheel, a bowedresilient member pivoted near one end to said wheel and having its otherend engaging said MAX REINER.

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